Engaging Mothers and Improving Co-parenting Among Unmarried Parents - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Learning Community Webinar: September 22, 2015

Engaging Mothers and Improving Co-parenting Among Unmarried Parents

Key Team Members & Committees

Temple University

– Jay Fagan, PhD, Project Co-Director – Rebecca Kaufman MSW, Senior Research Coordinator

Center for Policy Research

– Jessica Pearson, PhD, Project Co-Director – Nancy Thoennes, PhD, Project Consultant

University of Pennsylvania, National Center on Fathers and Families – Vivian Gadsden, Ed.D. The Bawmann Group, Denver, Colorado – Marketing communications firm with experience developing materials and strategies to reach fathers. 40 leading fatherhood practitioners and researchers – Steering committee and workgroups dealing with economic security, responsible fatherhood, co-parenting and communications

Five-year, $4.8 million grant (#90PR0006) to Temple University funded through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Office of Planning, Research and Evaluation, Oct 2013-Sept 2018. #1: Promote rigorous evaluation of fatherhood programs that serve low-income populations nationwide. Four awards in Round I; RFP for Round #2: Jan. 2016. #2: Provide training and technical assistance to researchers and practitioners to conduct better quality evaluations. Webinars, preconference workshops leading to Temple certificate for practitioners #3: Disseminate information that leads to effective fatherhood practice and research. www.frpn.org: Research briefs, measures for low-income, non- resident fathers, new research publications, list serve sign-up, electronic newsletter

Overview of FRPN

Contact ntact Us

Jay Fagan, n, PhD, FRPN N Co-Di Director ector

– jfagan@temple.edu, (215) 204-1288

Jessi sica ca Pearson, son, PhD, , FRPN N Co-Dir Direc ector tor

– jspearson@centerforpolicyresearch.org, (303) 837-1555

Rebecca a Kaufma fman, n, MSW, Senio ior r Resear arch h Coordina dinator tor

– tue45053@temple.edu,(215) 204-5706

Why a Webinar on Engaging Mothers & Co-Parenting for Fatherhood Programs?

• Children born to unmarried parents are more likely to experience

negative outcomes for health and wellbeing, in part because of low father involvement

• Mother-father relationship quality and residential status are

among the most consistent predictors of father involvement

• Paternal involvement is greater among fathers described by

mothers as supportive partners, regardless of marital status

• Couples can have positive co-parenting relationships even when

they are no longer romantically involved or living together

• As families change, a strong interparental relationship can

mediate the effects of marital status and father’s residential status on father involvement

• Efforts to improve father involvement should focus on improving

co-parenting skills—how they manage conflict and collaborate

• Supportive and low conflict co-parenting relationships are

associated with positive child outcomes

Today’s Panel

Leondra Davis

Famil ily PACT Coshocton, Ohio 24/7 /7 Dads Understanding ing Dads Mom as Gateway

Judy Williams

Action

• n for

Childr ldren Columb mbus, , Ohio Father Factor and and Mothers s Matter Anthony J. Mingo, Sr. Richmo mond Famil ily and Fatherhood Initiative VA Dept of Health’s Richmo mond City Healt lth District ict NPCL Tauchanna Gregory Richmo mond Famil ily and Fatherhood Initiative VA Dept of Health’s Richmo mond City Healt lth District ict NPCL Paul Florsheim, PhD Professor sor Zilber School l of Public ic Healt lth Universit ity y of Wisconsin in Milwaukee

Changes in the Structure and Definition of

• Family. Data Compiled by Child Trends, 2015

Staying Focused in the Blurry World of Family Relations Social & Cultural Factors Quality of Relations with Extended Family Members Quality of Co-parenting Relations Quality of Parenting & Parent-Child Relations Quality of Couples’ Romantic Relations

Progress toward effective co-parenting interventions for unmarried couples?

Buil ilding ding Strong ng Famil milies es Study dy results sults were disappoi ppointi ting ng

• Few positive effects…some negative findings
• Poor attendance/retention
• Psychological distress among participants

Sever eral al small aller r studie dies s have been more promi mising sing

• Decreased hostility between co-parents (Florsheim et al., 2011; 2012;

McHale et al. 2015)

• Increased alliance/support between co-parents (Fagan, 2008; McHale

et al., 2015)

• Increased father involvement in parenting (Fagan, 2008; Florsheim,

2012)

Why has progress been so slow?

• 1. Changes in family structure are

monumental

• 2. Co-parenting support services not “owned”

by healthcare institutions

• 3. Co-parenting/Fatherhood interventions

start too late

• 4. Co-parenting interventions overly focused
• n couples’ romantic relationships
• 5. Multi-couple groups are difficult to sustain

Next steps in promoting co-parenting interventions? 1. Focus on recruitment and retention

• Provide an incentive
• Recruit fathers through mothers
• Use natural “windows of opportunity”

2. Integrate co-parenting counseling/education with

• ther modes of intervention
• Prenatal
• Pediatric
• Early Childhood Education

3. Focus on positive relationship skills for addressing co-parenting concerns specific to individual couples

Presenter

Leondra Davis Family PACT Coshocton, Ohio 24/7 Dads Understanding Dads Mom as Gateway

Program Overview

• Since 2006 Family PACT and the Coshocton County Fatherhood Initiative has provided

mediation, supervised visits, and parent education services to the fathers and mothers in our rural community of Coshocton Ohio.

• We provide services to approximately 166 fathers/year. Fathers obtain access to our

programming through school programs, word of mouth, CSEA, court, counseling services

• r various other social services areas.

Working with Mothers

• Mothers are recruited the through the same venues as fathers: day care centers,

schools, churches and CSEA.

• Participation is voluntary except for those who violate court visitation orders.
• We serve approximately 112 mothers in a year.
• Services focus primarily on how to communicate with fathers and how to support

positive involvement between fathers and their children.

• PACT is training staff in social services agencies on Mom as Gateway to generate

referrals.

Presenter

Leondra Davis Family PACT Coshocton, Ohio 24/7 Dads Understanding Dads Mom as Gateway

Co-parenting Intervention

• 24/7 Dad is an interactive program for dads with 2 male facilitators. This program

consists of 12 two-hour sessions.

• Understanding Dad is an interactive program for moms with a male and female
• facilitator. This program consists of 8 two-hour sessions.
• Mom As Gateway is also and interactive program for mothers that has 4 two-hour

sessions

• Foundations is an one hour, hands on session for new and first time fathers.
• Framework in and interactive program with one or two facilitators that consists of 6

two-hour sessions for fathers.

Domestic Violence and Safety

• Domestic violence screening happens when referrals are submitted.
• The referring agency will provide all the information they have and the participants are

screened prior to the start of programming.

• For safety precautions, our facility is fully alarmed and located next to the local sheriff

department

Benefits and Challenges

• Many fathers have become actively involved, parents are communicating better, and

the children have access to two happy functional parents.

• Some of the challenges are that many view the programming as something that says

they are bad parents, or feel like participating in the programming is punitive in some

• way. We are slowly changing that view as more and more parents participate in the

programming.

Presenters

Judy Williams Action for Children Columbus, Ohio Father Factor and Mothers Matter

Program Overview

Action for Children founded in 1972

• Located in Columbus, OH; serving 7 central Ohio counties

TAPP: Father Factor implemented in 2009

• Serve 8 counties; 250 Fathers served each year
• 13 hour curriculum over nine weeks
• Case management and supportive services included (e.g., child support, custody, etc.)
• Classes held in community, correctional facilities, and faith based organizations
• Classes available in English and Spanish
• To date, all classes have been contract-funded

Working with Mothers

TAPP: Mothers Matter implemented in 2013

• 12 hour curriculum over eight weeks
• To date, all classes have been fee-based
• Mothers recruited independent of Father Factor program via social media and

marketing at public locations (e.g., libraries, outreach events, etc.)

Presenters

Judy Williams Action for Children Columbus, Ohio Father Factor and Mothers Matter

Co-parenting Intervention

Unique approach to co-parenting

• Co-parenting skills taught via course curricula (Father Factor, Mothers Matter, Parents

Who Parent Separately)

• Classes customized to situations/challenges experienced by participants
• When offered concurrently, Mothers Matter and Father Factor class participants come

together for co-parenting session (note: they do not parent the same child/ren)

Domestic Violence and Safety

• Safety in classes: co-parents attend separate classes
• Intake process and case management provide opportunities to identify potential

victims and perpetrators

• Share and refer to community resources
• In process: enhanced screening tools and facilitator training

Benefits and Challenges

Benefits

• Participants gain insight and deeper understanding through the eyes of someone else’s

co-parent; more objective when less personal

• When one parent has a good experience in a class, they refer the other parent to the

class Challenges

• Funding
• Initial engagement for participation (basic needs, parent education stigma, complex

lives)

Presenter

Anthony Mingo & Tauchanna Gregory Richmond Family and Fathers Virginia Department of Health

Program Overview

• Richmond Family and Fatherhood Initiative (RFFI) was founded by the Virginia Department
• f Health / Richmond City Health District’s Director Dr. Donald Stern in 2007
• RFFI provides Family and Fatherhood resources and technical assistance to our Community

Partners, Faith-Based Partners and Partner Gov’t Agencies.

• Primary participant population are low income mothers coming from TANF, Incarceration,

Child Support or Faith Based referrals

• Aims to address the problem of father absence in the City of Richmond where 65% of

children (and 86% of African-American children) are born to women who are single at the time of delivery

Working with Mothers

• Strategic partnership to facilitate the implementation of the city-wide Motherhood and Co-

Parenting Initiative that supports single, divorced and widowed mothers.

• Partners include Richmond City Health District’s Richmond Family and Fatherhood Initiative

(RFFI) in collaboration with Trinity Family Life Center, Richmond City Justice Center, Rubicon Substance Abuse Treatment Center and the Carol Adams Foundation

• Working with Mothers: RFFI Program recruitment and engagement
• Referring Agencies: Department of Social Services, Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court ,

Department of Child Support Enforcement, Richmond City Justice Center, Health Department’s Resource Mothers Program, Faith Based Organizations and Churches

• Program Participants are an important source of referrals
• Television PSA’s, Radio and Newspaper interviews
• Motherhood Alumni members

Co-parenting Intervention

Program Curricula:

• National Partnership for Community Leadership’s www.npclstrongfamilies.com The

Mothers and Parenting Curriculum addresses the real experiences and challenges of young mothers through 18 group sessions that provide support, information and motivation in areas of parenthood and relationships.

• Trauma Informed Care Curriculum (developed by Dr. Allison Sampson-Jackson)
• RFFI’s Effective Co-Parenting Curriculum (developed by Dr. LeRoy Thompson)

Presenter

Anthony Mingo & Tauchanna Gregory Richmond Family and Fathers Virginia Department of Health

Motherhood Program June 2014- August 2015:

• Program sites: Trinity Family Life Center, Richmond City Justice Center, Rubicon Substance

Abuse Treatment Center, Carol Adams Foundation

• 83 mothers enrolled
• 23 mothers did not complete program
• 8 no shows
• 35 program graduates
• 10 graduates of DV and Motherhood & Co-Parenting

Fatherhood Program June 2014- August 2015:

• Program sites: 7 Churches, Richmond City Justice Center, Rubicon Substance Abuse Treatment

Center, District One Probation and Parole

• 391 fathers enrolled
• 136 fathers did not complete program
• 46 no shows
• 255 completed 16 week fatherhood curriculum

Presenter

Anthony Mingo & Tauchanna Gregory Richmond Family and Fathers Virginia Department of Health

Domestic Violence and Safety

• Class sessions on the incidence of domestic violence
• Discussion of the impact of domestic violence on children
• Discussion of the Power and Control Wheel
• Opportunity to share personal experiences and evaluate their own relationships
• Information on domestic violence service providers and safety planning

Benefits and Challenges

• To ensure that mothers receive the necessary knowledge and skills to be effectively

understand trauma in their lives and develop resiliency plans.

• Mothers receive the necessary knowledge and skills to be effective parents.
• To ensure that both parents receive the same knowledge and skills in order to lovingly

and effectively reach an agreement on co-parenting.

• To create a comfortable and supportive environment for mothers to discuss and learn

the effects of father absence in their own lives and the lives of their children.

• To create a positive environment for mothers to de-stress and openly discuss their

parenting strengths and challenges.

Presenter

Anthony Mingo & Tauchanna Gregory Richmond Family and Fathers Virginia Department of Health

Any Questions?

Contact Information for Our Presenters

Leondra Davis or William Johnson, Family Pact Coshocton, Ohio 740-622--6208 ldfamilypact@yahoo.com or William.Johnson@jfs.ohio.gov CCFI on Facebook or www.coshoctonfathers.org Judy Williams, Action for Children 614.224.0222 ext. 102 jwilliams@actionforchildren.org www.actionforchildren.org Paul Florsheim, PhD Professor, Zilber School of Public Health University of Wisconsin Milwaukee 414-227-4490 paulf@uwm.edu Anthony Mingo and Tauchanna Gregory Virginia Department of Health, Richmond Health District 400 East Cary Street, 4th Floor Richmond, Virginia 23219 (804) 205-3717 anthony.mingo@vdh.virginia.gov www.RichmondFatherhood.org